TAMPA, Fla. — Legacy and custom are two phrases that carry a ton of weight across the New York Yankees group. Whether or not it is the absence of names on the backs of participant jerseys, or the roll name from followers within the bleachers in the beginning of house video games, there are particular decades-long guidelines and rituals related to the Yankees’ tradition which can be believed to be unbendable.
That is a part of why it was surprising when Yankees proprietor Hal Steinbrenner introduced on Friday morning that the crew had modified its no-facial hair coverage that had been upheld for practically 50 years. Hours earlier than the Yankees took the sphere for his or her Grapefruit League opener towards the Tampa Bay Rays, gamers have been stunned to study that any longer they’re allowed to develop facial hair past a mustache. However there’s a restrict. Beards should be “effectively groomed,” in keeping with Steinbrenner’s new facial-hair coverage.
“The one data we have been provided, from [Yankees general manager Brian] Cashman, was that we’re not making an attempt to appear like Duck Dynasty,” Gerrit Cole stated, referring to the fact present. “No diss towards Duck Dynasty. You are grinding within the woods on a regular basis, you do not actually have an alternative choice. However that was the one clarification we obtained.”
George Steinbrenner, Hal’s father and the Yankees proprietor from 1973-2010, launched the earlier facial-hair coverage — no lengthy hair or beards — in 1976. The coverage was impressed by his navy background, as Steinbrenner believed it was necessary for Yankees gamers to look clear and disciplined.
So why was now the suitable time for Hal Steinbrenner to vary the rule?
It was a call that got here all the way down to successful, Steinbrenner stated, which is why he believes his father, who died in 2010, would respect his alternative. In the end, the Yankees don’t wish to be put able the place they fail to amass a participant due to the membership’s antiquated facial-hair coverage.
“I do not like addressing hypotheticals, however I will break my very own rule in the present day as a result of this was part of my thought course of and part of the choice that I made,” Steinbrenner stated in a press convention Friday. “If I ever came upon {that a} participant we needed to amass to make us higher, to get us a championship, didn’t wish to be right here — and if he had the flexibility, wouldn’t come right here due to that coverage, as necessary as it’s to that era — that may be very, very regarding. I am pretty satisfied that that is an actual concern.”
Added Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone: “If we miss out on one participant due to that, that is too many.”
Steinbrenner stated, to his information, there aren’t any precise situations of gamers refusing to hitch the Yankees as a result of their facial-hair coverage, but it surely’s been a subject of dialog. Cashman stated CC Sabathia hesitated to signal with the Yankees as a free agent again in 2008 as a result of he needed to maintain his facial hair. There have been gamers that most well-liked to not get drafted by the Yankees due to the coverage, and even this spring, Cashman talked to a non-roster invitee about whether or not he needed to shave to be included in camp.
Steinbrenner stated, for the previous a number of years, the earlier facial-hair coverage got here up “on a frequent and common foundation.” However this previous offseason, he took an additional step by speaking to numerous people, starting from Yankees staffers to folks in different organizations, to folks he is aware of within the business. Steinbrenner was making an attempt to know why facial hair was such an necessary matter to the present era of gamers.
That analysis continued this week on the Yankees spring coaching advanced, the place Steinbrenner sat down and had a face-to-face, one-on-one dialog concerning the hair coverage with quite a lot of gamers, together with Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, and Giancarlo Stanton. Cole stated he was stunned that Steinbrenner needed to speak concerning the coverage. Yankees catcher Austin Wells stated, though it is all the time a dialog level together with his teammates, he thought the rule would by no means change. After chatting with what Steinbrenner termed “a various group in that each one of them have been right here for a unique time frame,” he determined the coverage was “outdated and considerably unreasonable” for his staff to keep up.
“It nonetheless embodies our look and our neatness,” Cole stated. “But it surely permits for some particular person freedom and some much less razor burns.”
Yankees gamers are fascinated about seeing which of their teammates will truly begin rising beards. Wells, for one, is glad to spend much less time together with his razor; the catcher shaves round 5–6 instances per week. Anthony Volpe stated he struggles to develop facial hair so he’ll follow the previous rule. New nearer Devin Williams, whom the Yankees acquired by way of commerce this winter, confirmed as much as spring coaching together with his regular beard, but it surely was shaved off the subsequent day. Cole, who sported a full beard with the Astros in 2019 proper earlier than he signed with the Yankees, is undecided about whether or not he’ll let his facial hair develop once more, partly as a result of he does not need his grey hair to indicate.
Although there are blended emotions within the clubhouse about whether or not to make the most of their newfound facial-hair freedom, gamers are no less than glad to have the choice. Steinbrenner’s shocking rule change has paved the way in which for the Yankees to start a brand new legacy, and it highlights the wholesome modernization of a franchise that’s steeped in custom. Nonetheless, the core worth of the Yankees group is successful, and if eliminating an outdated coverage opens up extra pathways to amass the sport’s most proficient gamers, then Steinbrenner is all-in.
“He is searching for any edge he can get,” Cole stated of Steinbrenner. “He definitely does not wish to flip anyone away that might be impactful for us, however on the similar time, sustaining our crew look. Shaving can get slightly bit mundane by way of the entire 12 months and uncomfortable at instances. However by and huge, yearly that I have been right here, all of us typically like the concept we glance good, we glance clear, and we glance, you already know, neat and tidy. So I feel that these points should not going to go away, however just a bit little bit of particular person freedom by way of being extra snug is a pleasant stability.”
Prepared or not, right here come the Bearded Bronx Bombers.
Deesha Thosar is a MLB reporter and columnist for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand lined the Mets for 4 years as a beat reporter for the New York Every day Information. Observe her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
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